ISTANBUL 

The Cuban foreign minister has called on the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to collectively defend the region's independence and sovereignty against the threat caused by the recent US military intervention in Venezuela, according to the Venezuela-based Telesur news.

Speaking at an extraordinary summit of the CELAC on Sunday, Bruno Rodriguez underlined that the US action represents "an existential threat of a historical nature, transcending all political and ideological lines."

"Latin America is not a disputed territory, nor does it belong to anyone other than the sovereignty of its people," underlined Rodriguez.

US President Donald Trump’s statement about taking control over Venezuela's oil industry has colonialist undertones, he added.

Rodriguez also demanded the immediate release of captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores, who were flown to the US to face criminal charges at a court in New York.

He added that CELAC should not allow “force and barbarity to prevail over international law" and demand accountability from “those responsible for these aggressions for the deaths caused and the disastrous precedent they set."

On Saturday, Trump announced that the US military action on Venezuela resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife Flores, also pledging to assert American control over the country for the time being, with US troops if necessary.

Maduro and Flores were flown to New York late Saturday and are being held at a detention center in Brooklyn. They face US federal charges tied to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations.

Maduro has denied the accusations, and officials in Caracas have called for the couple’s release.

Cuba also announced on Sunday that 32 of its combatants were killed during the US intervention in Venezuela, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel declaring Jan. 5 and 6 national days of mourning.